An unrepentant China on Friday defended its actions in disputed Asian waters amid warnings of war with Vietnam, as Washington voiced “serious concern” after riots left two Chinese workers dead and more than 100 injured.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday told a press conference that as of May 14 in Vietnam, over 100 Taiwanese-owned companies had been attacked and damaged, over 10 factories set ablaze and several hundred Taiwanese-owned firms have suspended work owing to safety concerns, noting that the MOEA will assist Taiwanese nationals in seeking compensation from Vietnam.

A 1,000-strong mob stormed a Taiwanese steel mill in Vietnam overnight, killing at least one Chinese worker and injuring 90, Taiwan's ambassador said Thursday, the first deadly incident in a wave of anti-China protests prompted by Beijing's deployment of an oil rig in disputed seas.

The government does not currently intend to evacuate Taiwanese nationals in Vietnam amid tensions in the country after Vietnamese protesters damaged facilities owned by Taiwanese businesses and attacked Taiwanese people in a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.

Anti-China mobs torched up to 15 foreign-owned factories and trashed many more in southern Vietnam amid rising anger over China's recent installment of an oil rig in disputed Southeast Asian waters, officials and state media said Wednesday.

Thousands of workers staged protests at an industrial park in southern Vietnam Tuesday over China's deployment of a drilling rig in contested waters, damaging factories and offices, official media said.

In the wake of rising anti-Chinese sentiment, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) made an announcement last night, raising the caution level to yellow for Taiwanese people traveling in Vietnam and saying that two Taiwanese businessmen have been injured during demonstrations.